Luther and Lutheranism

Martin Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus set sail from Europe and landed in the Western Hemisphere. Luther was a young monk and priest when Michaelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome...

ELCA Good Gifts Catalog

Assignment Process

Assignment completes candidacy for all people, including those ordained in another Lutheran church or Christian tradition, moving them toward first call and admittance to the appropriate roster in the ELCA...

Joint Observance

The ELCA Conference of Bishops' Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Liaison Committee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Committee commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by signing a joint statement during a Lutheran-Catholic service of Common Prayer.

Reformation 500

Martin Luther posted his “Ninety-Five Theses” in Wittenberg on Oct. 31, 1517, and the resulting debate about Christian teaching and practice led to changes that have shaped the course of Western Christianity for almost 500 years.

Kalos: The ELCA Legacy Society

The woman from Bethany broke the jar of fragrance to give Jesus a priceless gift, showing her love, no matter the cost. Jesus recognized the beauty in her gift and told us that her story will inspire many for generations to come. The Greek work for beautiful is “kalos.”

In the spirit of that beautiful gesture, the ELCA Foundation created Kalos. This legacy recognition society celebrates friends of the ELCA who have designated a gift in their will or trust or who are benefactors of an endowment that supports this church’s work. Through Kalos, donors who make contributions to donor-advised funds and life income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, are also recognized.

By including at least one ELCA churchwide ministry or ELCA ministry endowment in your gift plan, you become a member of Kalos. These ELCA ministries include:

ELCA Fund for Leaders

ELCA Global Church Sponsorship

Global Ministries

International Leaders

ELCA Missionaries

Young Adults in Global Mission

ELCA New Congregations

ELCA Vision for Mission

ELCA World Hunger

Lutheran Disaster Response

Renewing Congregations

Through Kalos, you will create an enduring testimony to a life lived joyfully in faith, year after year. Your act of generosity becomes a thing of beauty.

The examples and information provided on this website are for illustrative and educational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax or legal advisor about proceeding with your gift plan.

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There is a place for you here.

We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person--questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.